other cases, is covered by the apostle’s words: “We shall assure our heart before Him, whereinsoever our heart condemn us.” It may well be asked then, how, when God endorses the con- viction of the heart, we are to assure our heart before Him? What, when the apostle himself has just told us that “ whoso- ever is born of God doth not commit sin ?—that he cannot sin, because he is born of God ¢?—that whosoever sinneth hath not seen or known God? These utterances, by themselves, are ter- rible. They destroy all hope of assurance. They make sin- lessness the test of being in Christ. How shall we assure our heart ¢
Here we must be particular to note that all through this chapter, and it might be said, throughout the Epistle, John is dealing with something broader than specific errors or good deeds. He is dealing with the question of a Christian’s rela- tion to God. Note the sharp and broad classifications of this chapter to this effect, indicating the order or economy to which the man belongs rather than his specific acts.
He that doeth righteousness.
He that doeth sin ; where sin as a whole answers to right- eousness as a whole.
He is righteous even as He is righteous. He is of the devil : where, in each case, the man’s character is shown to be a reflec- tion of his spiritual master.
So, too, the phrases, ‘“‘ children of God;” “of the truth ;” “passed from death unto life.” And in chapter i., “in dark- ness;” “in the light.” Again, in chapter iv., “dwelleth in God ;” “of the world ;” “of God.” And, once more, the fact that the entire Epistle turns on a question of relation between man and God. Its key-note is fellowship— That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you also, that ye also may have fellowship with us; yea, and our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.”
This being true, the tests applied are directed at this relation. “Hereby we perceive that we are of the truth:” that is our sphere, our genesis, our economy. And accordingly specific acts are treated in the light of this general relation. No man goes sinless before God. This is treated in the first chap-